Invalid supporting device



Dec. l5, 1942. H T, FRosT 2,305,249

INVALID SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May 7, 1941 l I i 5 "R 7/ A IN VEN TOR.#a/17m z: ,ffl-w57,

Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATESv PATENT 4OFFICE INVALID SUPPORTINGDEVICE Horatio T. Frost, Mitchell, S. Dak.

Application May 7, 1941, Serial No. 392,359

1 Claim.

My invention relates to invalid supporting devices and has as one of theprincipal objects thereof the provision of a device of the abovedescribed character adapted for utilization by invalids and those whosepower of locomotion is impaired in a manner whereby they are enabled towalk or be supported in an upright position without danger of falling.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the foregoingdescribed character so constructed and arranged as to minimizeaccidental slipping of the device with respect to the floor therebyenabling the invalid or other user to perform daily activities withoutattendant danger of injury due to skidding.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the foregoingdescribed character so constructed and arranged whereby the same may beconveniently used by persons of diii'erent heights.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which is simple in construction, durable in use,eiilcient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, appended claim and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a. perspective view of my invention with the seat removed.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrating the seatarranged in connected relation with the frame.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

My invalid supporting device, in the embodiment depicted in the drawing,comprises an elongated cylindriform member 5 bent interjacent its endsto form a frame fashioned with upper and lower substantially U-shapedsections 6 and 'I respectively. The section 6 is formed with a pair ofspaced side hand rails 8 connected together at one end by means of across-rail 9 while the lower section 'l is formed with a pair of spacedside floor rails I connected together, at coincident ends with respectto the portions S by means of an arciform cross-rail II.

The opposite ends of the rails 8 and I0 are formed with arcuatedownwardly and upwardly extending end portions I2 and I3 respectivelyand with the portions of one section being connected to coincidentportions of the other section by means of substantially verticallydisposed standards I4. The ends of the member con- .stitute thecross-rail 9 and are connected together by means of a, coupling I5disposed between the portions 8. Adjacent the cross bars 9 and` II, thesections 6 and 1 are connected together by means of a pair of crossbraces or rods I6 which coact with the standards I4 to maintain saidsections in spatiality.

'I'he hand rails 8 incline upwardly towards the cross-rail S whereby todispose the end of the section 6 adjacent the rod I6 a greater distancesuperjacent the iloor than the opposite end of said section to enablepersons of different heights to readily grasp and comfortably andconveniently support themselves by the rails 8 while standing or walkingas hereinafter more fully set forth.

The standards I4 have adjustably and slidably mounted thereon collarsI1, the latter being provided with set-screws I 8 for engagement withthe standards whereby to maintain the collars in selected positions fora purpose hereinafter made apparent. The collars I1 are fashioned withoutwardly extending fingers I9 for supporting thereon the ends of adetachable transversely disposed bar 20. The bar 20 extends through andsupports the lower looped end of a member 2l constituting a combinedseat and backrest, the latter being constructed of flexible material,for instance, canvas or the like. The upper end of the member 2I isprovided with a loop in which is disposed a bar 22, the latter beingformed with angularly disposed end sections terminating in hooks 23disposed in detachable hooked engagement with the cross-rail 9 and whichhooks 23 coact with the bar 20 to maintain the member 2l supportedbetween the sections 6 and 1 whereby an invalid may be comfortablyseated and in reclining position upon the member 2|.

By detaching the bars 20 and 22 from the frame, the member 2I is removedto enable the invalid or other person to stand within the sections 6andl 1 between their respective side rails and to readily grasp the handrails 8 to support himself in an upright or standing position.0bviously, by sliding the lower section 'I over the iloor the invalid isthus enabled to support himself during walking. The floor rails I0 andthe cross-rail II are disposed in the same horizontal plane with respectto the floor to dispose said rails in appressed relation therewiththereby minimizing skidding of the device, while, due to the curvatureof the rails I0 and II of the section 1, it is easily moved over thefloor.

While I have shown and described the frame as being constructed of acylindriform member, it is to be understood that the member may be ofany desired shape and of either solid or tubular construction.Furthermore, when it is desired to utilize the device merely forsupporting a person in a standing position or during a relatively shortwalk, the ends of the bar 20 may be positioned upon the ends of the handrails 8 adjacent the rail 9 thus disposing the member 2l in suspendedrelation with respect to the section 6. From the foregoing, it will beapparent that I have provided a simple form of invalid supporting devicecapable of supporting aninvalid in either a standing or sitting positionas desired.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully explain theinvention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it isnot indispensable that all the features of the invention be usedconjointly since they may be employed advantageously in variouscombinations and sub-combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein describeduse therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it isadaptable. It is therefore tobe understood that the invention is notlimited to the specific construction as illustrated and described as thesame is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which arecapable of extended application in various forms, and that the inventioncomprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In an invalid supporting device, an elongated element bent interadjacentits ends and constituting a frame fashioned with upper and lowersubstantially U-shaped hand and oor sections respectively, each sectionformed with a pair of spaced side rails and a cross-rail connecting saidside lrails together at.- oneend, vertically disposed standardsconnecting the opposite ends of the rails of one section to the oppositeends of the rails of the other section, cross braces connecting saidsections together adjacent the first mentioned ends of the rails, therails of said hand sections being inclined upwardly toward said braceswhereby to dispose the ends of said hand section adjacent said braces agreater dis tance from said floor section than its opposite end and thusenable persons of different heights to readily grasp and convenientlysupport themselves by the rails of said handsection while in a positionfor standing and walking between the rails of said sections duringsliding of said floor section lover a floor, collars slidably adjustablymounted on said standards, a combined seat and backrest member providedat its ends with transverse rods connected to the cross-rail of saidhand section and said collars respectively and with at least said lastmentioned rod detachable from said collars and frame to permit saidpersons to assume said position.

HORATIO T. FROST.

